The Brabham Family Dynasty
The Brabham name has been synonymous in world-class motorsport for over 60 years.
A triple Formula 1 World Drivers’ (1959, 1960 and 1966) and double Constructors’ Champion (1966 and 1967), Sir Jack Brabham is one of the most accomplished drivers and team owners in the history of the sport. The first driver to be knighted for services to motorsport, ‘Black Jack’ rose from racing midgets on dirt ovals in Australia to dominate global motorsport.
His first two titles in the Cooper Climax marked the end for front-engined Formula 1 cars. The third made him the only driver in history to win a World Championship in a car bearing his own name and make, the Brabham BT19.
It was also in a Cooper that Sir Jack shook the establishment at Indianapolis as the first driver to race a modern mid-engined car at the 500, his eventual ninth place triggering the rear-engine revolution at Indy.
Acclaimed as a brilliant engineer, technological innovations brought about by the Brabham team helped to shape the sport today. Through his partnership with Ron Tauranac, over 500 Brabham racecars were built from the team’s British Surrey base, the result of which included not only the 1966 and 1967 Constructors’ titles but also multiple Formula 2 crowns.
Although Jack scored his final F1 win in the South African Grand Prix in 1970, the Brabham racing legacy has continued with all three of Jack’s sons achieving their own global success.
Geoff won the Le Mans 24 Hours in 1993 and a staggering four IMSA GTP Championship titles. Double American Le Mans Series Champion and 2009 Le Mans 24 Hours winner, David still competes at the highest echelons of sportscar racing in a career spanning over 30 years.
With grandsons Matthew and Sam now carving their own notable racing careers, the dynasty continues with a third generation of Brabhams. Matthew, son of Geoff, has already clocked up the USF2000 and Pro Mazda championship crowns, an Indy 500 start and a class win in the Bathurst 12hr. Despite a later start to his career, David's son Sam has already underlined his potential with an outstanding debut British Formula Ford season in 2013.
The Brabham racing achievements may be vast and wide-ranging, but an undeniable DNA runs strong through the family, each member delivering a calm and thoughtful approach, unfaltering focus and determination to succeed on the racetrack.
A triple Formula 1 World Drivers’ (1959, 1960 and 1966) and double Constructors’ Champion (1966 and 1967), Sir Jack Brabham is one of the most accomplished drivers and team owners in the history of the sport. The first driver to be knighted for services to motorsport, ‘Black Jack’ rose from racing midgets on dirt ovals in Australia to dominate global motorsport.
His first two titles in the Cooper Climax marked the end for front-engined Formula 1 cars. The third made him the only driver in history to win a World Championship in a car bearing his own name and make, the Brabham BT19.
It was also in a Cooper that Sir Jack shook the establishment at Indianapolis as the first driver to race a modern mid-engined car at the 500, his eventual ninth place triggering the rear-engine revolution at Indy.
Acclaimed as a brilliant engineer, technological innovations brought about by the Brabham team helped to shape the sport today. Through his partnership with Ron Tauranac, over 500 Brabham racecars were built from the team’s British Surrey base, the result of which included not only the 1966 and 1967 Constructors’ titles but also multiple Formula 2 crowns.
Although Jack scored his final F1 win in the South African Grand Prix in 1970, the Brabham racing legacy has continued with all three of Jack’s sons achieving their own global success.
Geoff won the Le Mans 24 Hours in 1993 and a staggering four IMSA GTP Championship titles. Double American Le Mans Series Champion and 2009 Le Mans 24 Hours winner, David still competes at the highest echelons of sportscar racing in a career spanning over 30 years.
With grandsons Matthew and Sam now carving their own notable racing careers, the dynasty continues with a third generation of Brabhams. Matthew, son of Geoff, has already clocked up the USF2000 and Pro Mazda championship crowns, an Indy 500 start and a class win in the Bathurst 12hr. Despite a later start to his career, David's son Sam has already underlined his potential with an outstanding debut British Formula Ford season in 2013.
The Brabham racing achievements may be vast and wide-ranging, but an undeniable DNA runs strong through the family, each member delivering a calm and thoughtful approach, unfaltering focus and determination to succeed on the racetrack.
The Brabhams
Jack Brabham (1926 - 2014)
• A triple Formula 1 World champion, Sir Jack is rightly billed as one of the true legends of motorsport and is acclaimed as one of the best driver-engineers to have ever competed in F1
• Went from racing midgets on dirt tracks in Australia to taking the motorsport world by storm. The Brabham name is renowned not only for Sir Jack’s outstanding achievements on track, but also as a team owner and manufacturer spanning 40 years with multiple Formula 2 and Formula 3 accolades, and the Formula 1 World Constructors’ titles in 1966 and 1967
• Took his first F1 crown in spectacular fashion at the United States Grand Prix, pushing the Cooper Climax across the finishing line after it ran out of fuel to finish fourth and become Australia’s first Formula 1 World Champion
• Secured the 1960 spoils in dominant fashion with five consecutive wins in the Cooper T53 Climax Became the only driver to win the World Championship in a car bearing his own name, the Brabham BT19 Repco in 1966 – a feat unlikely to ever be repeated
• Went from racing midgets on dirt tracks in Australia to taking the motorsport world by storm. The Brabham name is renowned not only for Sir Jack’s outstanding achievements on track, but also as a team owner and manufacturer spanning 40 years with multiple Formula 2 and Formula 3 accolades, and the Formula 1 World Constructors’ titles in 1966 and 1967
• Took his first F1 crown in spectacular fashion at the United States Grand Prix, pushing the Cooper Climax across the finishing line after it ran out of fuel to finish fourth and become Australia’s first Formula 1 World Champion
• Secured the 1960 spoils in dominant fashion with five consecutive wins in the Cooper T53 Climax Became the only driver to win the World Championship in a car bearing his own name, the Brabham BT19 Repco in 1966 – a feat unlikely to ever be repeated
Geoff Brabham (1952 - )
• In a stunning career spanning over three decades, Geoff won races and championship titles in almost every category he raced, from Formula Ford, Formula 2, Formula 3 and Indy cars, to sports and touring cars across Australia, Europe and the United States
• Early career success included third in the 1974 Australian Formula Ford Championship, the 1975 Australian F2 and 1979 SCAA Super Vee Championship titles Firmly forging his career in the US, Geoff took the 1981 Can-Am Championship with eight podiums from 10 rounds
• Dominated the IMSA GTP Championship, taking four consecutive titles 1988-1991 for Nissan, amid a six year era of excellence
• Early career success included third in the 1974 Australian Formula Ford Championship, the 1975 Australian F2 and 1979 SCAA Super Vee Championship titles Firmly forging his career in the US, Geoff took the 1981 Can-Am Championship with eight podiums from 10 rounds
• Dominated the IMSA GTP Championship, taking four consecutive titles 1988-1991 for Nissan, amid a six year era of excellence
David Brabham (1965 - )
• Triple Le Mans 24 Hours class winner. Outright victory with Team Peugeot Total in 2009 sealed a consecutive hat-trick of wins, following double GT1 titles with Aston Martin Racing in 2007 and 2008
• Back-to-back American Le Mans Series Champion with Highcroft Racing in 2009 and 2010
• Achieved two championship titles, 24 race wins, 62 class podiums and 14 pole positions in 105 ALMS starts since 1999
• The only driver to boast pole positions and wins across all ALMS categories of LMP1, LMP2, GT1 and GT2